The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-05
directions as to how the house could
be reached.

directions as to how the house could
be reached.
"Do you know what deputies com.
posed the raiding party, by enc OF
whom Waller vas killed."
~ do not. There were two or thtee
raiding parties out, weren't there
The reporter confessed ignorance
and left. After seeing the colored
people at the house, he..returned 10 the
Office and telephoned to the jail to see
II the meme Of the murderous deputy
could bs learned from the prisoner:
Night Waterman Butler answered
that il man were sent up there he
could interview the prisoners. this
was done, with the following result;
George Robinson, who lives at NO
80 Hill street, one of the negroes ar.
res,e ed in the raid, was seen ut the Jail
and said: II don't know what l was
arrested for, for l was hot playing
craps, but was In the ballroom cancing
when the officers csme. Ms and Joe
Waller had gone to the park with two
girls. Ike men who were playing
craps were just outside the dance hall,
in the corner oil the fence. Joe
Waller was not one oil them, Tor
he WAS In the ballroom with me, and
had been dancing. When the OF.
fcers came up on the crap.shootere,
they made q rush into the ballroom,
followed by the Ulcers. At sight OF
the officers everybody In the hall--snd
there were about one hundred-mtde
q rush for the doors snd windows.
The officers began firing into the
crowd. | know there were as many
90 tbr rec shots fred. Joe YVES near me
and making for the door. when he was
shot. Who shot him, can't say, for
| was 30 scared / wasn't looking to
see. In the jam and rush was
nsbbed and here is."
"You are right certain that Waller
was not playing craps p
81 know he wasn't, for he was right
there In the room with me-" When
told that Waller was dead, Robinson
exclaimed: "Fo' God, what shame,
'csuse he wasn't doing nothing"
From all phaees Of the case, after
making as complete an investigation
as possible, IL can but strike the aver.
age man that an ofIieial murder hae
been committed. The dead msn was
not in the crap game, but in tbs ball
room. As 10 whst he was doing In the
ball room. matters rot, 30 loag ~ he
was committing no grave crime. Even
were he engaged In ehootipg craps,
what warrant Ia there In law Tor tuch
resort TO frearms, when the esme.
ster IL only fleeing from aTeet2 As
well might an officer raid the pslatial
gambling halls Iul and fiequsnted
By white men and begin their iusllsde
At those participating in the various
glmss. But where has his ever beer
done, or where 10 the deputy sherif
who would presume or dave do it3 Il
canno. aud will not be denied that iLs
majority Of deputies under Shef 4
Cannon have gained unenvisble n'
torie'y by their unlawful sctf, DO dfJ
committed. Away outside tee city
surrounded by great crowd OF ne
groes--ha, however, made no sh0S
OF violence, bat hsd preoiplLNtclp--
the raiders forgot the lfw declining
cases under which they were
privileged 10 resort 10 Are arHP,
forgot that they wers empowert d
with authority to tubserve the
ends Of law and order, and
not 10 violate them. Complaints
agsinst the present staff Of deputies
are loud and frequent, and Sherf
Cannon should, IL justice to himself
see that thoee who cause tie com
plants are investigated. Ifguilty lie
them be dismissed and punished, No
gentlemep, q fleeing cTspshooier A.
though q negro, is no legal target iol
q deputy's trusty revolver.